rTMS for Depression
Health Canada-approved, evidence-based relief for treatment-resistant depression
Health Canada-approved, evidence-based relief for treatment-resistant depression
Depression is a common but serious disorder that can affect your behaviour, thoughts, and feelings. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness with a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. Unfortunately, many patients are treatment-resistant, meaning they have not improved even after trying two antidepressants. At this point, the likelihood of responding to another antidepressant is as low as 15%.
Depression is a multifactorial disease with multiple possible causes, including abnormal mood regulation in the brain, genetic susceptibility, and environmental stress. Specific circuits in the brain responsible for mood are believed to be abnormal in patients with depression.
Common treatments for depression include medications such as antidepressants and psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Multiple large studies have consistently found rTMS to be an effective treatment for treatment-resistant depression.
Patients with treatment-resistant depression are five times more likely to achieve remission with rTMS compared to trying another antidepressant.
Approximately 60% of people with depression will get better with rTMS and 35-40% may find they have no symptoms after treatment.
rTMS may also increase the efficacy of antidepressants in patients who are not treatment-resistant.
Combining psychotherapy with rTMS may further increase its effectiveness.
rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) is a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. An electromagnetic coil placed against your scalp delivers painless magnetic pulses to specific brain regions.
By targeting areas of the brain associated with mood regulation, pain perception, addiction, or motor control, these magnetic pulses stimulate brain activity, promoting the healing process by encouraging the formation of new neural connections. This process, known as neuroplasticity, is the key to rTMS effectiveness.
Most people tolerate rTMS exceptionally well with minimal side effects. Any side effects are typically mild and tend to improve after each session. Common side effects may include headache, scalp discomfort, tingling of facial muscles, and lightheadedness. Serious side effects are very rare.
Common questions about rTMS treatment for depression.
Clinical research demonstrates that rTMS achieves response rates of approximately 50-60% in patients with treatment-resistant depression, with 30-40% achieving full remission. A landmark study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that patients who had failed multiple antidepressant trials were five times more likely to achieve remission with rTMS compared to trying another medication. The treatment is FDA-cleared and Health Canada-approved specifically for treatment-resistant depression.
A standard course of rTMS treatment for depression consists of 30 sessions, typically delivered five days per week over 6 weeks. Each session lasts approximately 15-25 minutes. Fast-Track TBS offers 30 sessions completed in just 1 week with 3-minute sessions multiple times per day. Maintenance treatments may be recommended to sustain benefits, particularly for patients with chronic or recurrent depression.
rTMS is a private-pay treatment. Standard rTMS sessions are $80 per session (30 sessions over 6 weeks, totaling $2,400). Fast-Track TBS sessions are $166 per session (30 sessions over 1 week, totaling $4,980). We offer flexible payment options to make care accessible. Contact us to discuss your options.
During a session, you sit in a comfortable chair while a technician positions an electromagnetic coil against your scalp over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex - a brain region involved in mood regulation. The device delivers brief magnetic pulses that feel like light tapping. You remain fully awake and can return to normal activities immediately after. The first session includes motor threshold calibration to personalize treatment intensity.
Yes, rTMS is commonly used alongside antidepressant medications. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry indicates that combining rTMS with pharmacotherapy may produce superior outcomes compared to either treatment alone. rTMS does not interact pharmacologically with medications, making it safe to use concurrently. Many patients find that rTMS helps their medications work more effectively or allows them to reduce dosages under physician supervision.
rTMS has a favorable safety profile compared to medications and ECT. The most common side effect is mild scalp discomfort or headache during or shortly after treatment, which typically diminishes over the course of treatment. Serious adverse events are rare; the risk of seizure is approximately 0.01% when safety guidelines are followed. Unlike antidepressants, rTMS does not cause weight gain, sexual dysfunction, or sedation.
Book a free consultation to discuss how rTMS can help you.